Page 50 of The Winter Prince

He inhaled a ragged breath. His bright blue eyes fluttered open and landed on her.

Chapter 33

Revi

Reviwasfreezing.Hewas drifting in a glacial expanse, a chill that bit down into his marrow, but despite the lack of heat, something about the cold thrilled him and also gave a deep sense of peace that he had almost forgotten the feeling of. That cold meant he could rest. That cold meant all was right with the world.

Soft, warm lips pressed against his own. The peace he felt was joined by a sense of exhilaration. His eyes flicked open.

Leaning over him, her face filling his vision and spreading fire in his chest, was Kienna. At the sight of him, her teary face erupted into a quavering smile.

“It worked,” she said. “It worked! You’re alive.” And then she burst into tears, burying her head in his chest. His hands came up of their own accord to stroke her hair.

He had hands. He had hands because he’d broken the curse, but hadn’t he returned to a beast? To fight the...

“Thezruyeds?“ he blurted out, jerking upright and looking around wildly.

“Peace, cousin,” Enlo said. He knelt a pace away, pure relief in his own expression. He raised a hand to allay Revi’s panic. “They’re gone.”

The initial panic faded as the fight came back to Revi. Yes, he’d destroyed most of them, but he had been so weak he’d been almost overcome. He would have been if not for... He looked at Enlo.

“You saved my life.”

What would have been a moment of good-natured gloating from his cousin any other time was instead filled with a grimace. Enlo averted his eyes.

“Yes, well”—he kept his tone light, but his wary, guilt-ridden expression was utterly unlike him—“it was the least I could do for trying to murder you.”

A soft hiss escaped Kienna’s lips. Revi found her fingers and squeezed.

“It’s safe to say you’re done trying to murder me,” he said. “You have no need to now. The curse is broken, and the throne is yours.”

“I don’t want the throne.” Enlo’s voice was barely more than a whisper. “I don’t deserve the throne.”

“I meant everything I said, Enlo. I think you’ll be an admirable leader.”

Enlo shook his head. “No. I mean, yes.” A hint of his usual smirk ghosted across his face for a flicker of a moment. “I would be a good leader.” He swallowed and met Revi’s gaze. “But you are already a great one. For your claims of not caring about the Court as much as I do, you made the choice that you believed would protect it the most, at the cost of your own life—just like you always have—and that action was what saved us. I don’t deserve your throne, Revi, and I’ve never truly wanted it.” He inclined his head to Revi. “So please, let me give it back.”

“Are you sure, cousin?” Revi asked softly.

Enlo smiled. “I’m certain. Don’t worry, I won’t change my mind and try murdering you again in six months.”

“That would be inconvenient,” Revi agreed. He opened his mouth, then hesitated. A part of him wanted to refuse his cousin, to reject the throne.

Enlo seemed to sense this. “You fear they don’t love you. But I would argue that the quiet loyalty you get from them is far stronger than anything my charm and wit has earned me.”

“I have done nothing to earn it,” Revi whispered.

“I think they would disagree.” Enlo gestured behind Revi.

He turned. Their small staff who had stayed at the castle was hurrying up the garden path. They stopped at the sight of Revi, their eyes lighting up before giving him deep bows from where they stood.

“Be the prince they need,” Enlo said. “I know you can. Besides, you won’t be alone. You have a beautiful wife with an excellent sense of character. She chose you over me, after all.”

Revi glanced at Kienna, who blushed deeply but met his gaze.

“Wife?” he said stupidly.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I’m sorry—it was the only way to save you. If you don’t... you don’t want me, I... I...” She stammered to a stop, her cheeks flushing even further.

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